Cigar packing machine



Oct. 12, 1937. F. R. scHMlTT GIGAR PACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1933 13 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

F. R. SCHMITT CIGAR PACKING MACHINE oct. 12, 1937.

Filed Aug. 28, 1953 13 SheeS-Shee;l 4

INVENTOR I M /f f TORNEY oct. 12, 1937.

F. R. scHMlfrT CIGAR PACKING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 28, 1933 WMTMIWI Det. l2, 1937. F. R. SCHMITT CIGAR PACKING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 28, 1953 INVENTOR i 42M /l/ ,f oRNEY m mw@ Oct. 12, 1937.` F. R. scHMrrT CIGR v PACKING MAHINE Filed Aug. 2a, 195s 1s sheets-sheet v NNN x NN

Q N lNvENToR i TORNEY Oct. 12, 1937. F. R. SCHMITT cIGAR PACKING Mommal v115 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 28, 1953 T, Tr,

ATTORNEY Oct. l2, 1937. F. R. SCHMITT C-AIGARIIRICKING MACHINE uledxug. 2a, 195s 1:5 sheets-sheet 11 A www 1s sheets-sheet 12 ATTORNEY F. R. SCHMITT cIGAR PACKING MACHINE Flled Aug 28, 19:53

Oct. l2, 1937.

@WJ vFN QQ SR VK l @vdi Oct. 12, 1937. F. n. SCHMITT CIGAR PACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2a. 1935V 15 Sheets-Shea?l 15 FIG-5I FIG.54

ATTORNEY Patentedv Oct. 12, 1937 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGAR ,PACKING MACHINE Application August 2S,

'26 claims.

This invention relates to a machine for rapidly and economically packing -groups of cigars, by successively enclosing the cigars in individual wrappers, grouping the wrapped cigars in predetermined numbers, supplying and opening collapsed cartons, i-nserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons,i and closing the filled cartons.

Another object is to provide means for so synchronizing the various mechanisms of the machine that failure of the cigars to be supplied from the Wrapping means 4to the cartoning means will automatically-stop the cartoning means and thus avoid packaging groups of less than the desired number of cigars.

Another object is to provide a machine for forming a type of cigar package which eliminates an inner slide thereby decreasing packaging costs and making possible more rapid packing of the cigars.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and eicient means for closing andsealing the package and for inserting the tongue flap after filling the package shell.

Other objects are to provide improved carte-n feeding and opening means and improved devices for inserting groups of cigars in opened cartons. Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an organized machine which will feed collapsed cartons from a stack and will automatically and without manual handling, open said cartons and insert individually Wrapped cigars in said cartons, and close the cartons ready for marketing.

Still another object is to provide for preventing turning of the cigars to keep the banded or printed side of the wrapped cigar up and in visible position in the carton of a window type.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cigar package of a type which is as satisfactory as expensive packages and which at the same time is more inexpensive and easier to remove cigars from. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in View, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings in which like `characters of reference indicate the same or like parts,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved cigar packing machine illustrating particularly the arrangement of the `carton opening and feeding parts;

Fig. 2 is a vieW in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

1933,4 Serial No. 687,179

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation illustrating the connection between the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 and a cigar banding and wrapping machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the cigar separating and grouping device;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view in end elevation on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail end elevation partially in section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional end elevation in section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a -view in end elevation showing the carton feed;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view in side elevation showing a detail of the carton feed, this section being taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail View in sectional'side elevation showing a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail view in sectional end elevation on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a plan View of the carton opening mechanism;

Fig. 14 is an end elevation partly in section of the carton opening mechanism shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a detail side elevation partly broken away of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a detail view taken on the line ll-I'l on Fig. 18, showing a section through the carton opening blade;

Fig. 18 is a detail sectional view of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 19 is an end elevation of the inserting mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a pla'n view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 19;

Fig.21 is a detail view in side elevation of the cigar inserting mechanism of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 19, taken in elevation but from the opposite side;

Fig. 23 is a sectional end elevation of the carton closing mechanism;

Fig. 24 is a plan View of the device shown in Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 isa side elevation of the device of Fig. 23;

operations performed by the parts shown in Fig. 23;

Fig. 32 is an end elevation partly in section of the stamping mechanismfor applying stamps to the closed carton and also means for making the final closure of the carton;

Fig. 33 is a plan view of the preceding;

Fig. 34 is a detail side elevation of the carton closing mechanism shown in Fig. 32;

Fig. 35 is a side elevation illustrating the carton delivery mechanism;

Fig. 36 is a plan view of the preceding;

Fig. 37 is a sectional end elevation of the preceding;

Fig. 38 is a side elevation showing a detail of the machine for preventing operation of the stamping device when no carton is fed;

Fig. 39 is a plan view of the preceding;

Fig. 40 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 41 is a sectional detail view on the line 4I-4I of Fig. 39;

Fig. 42 is a view in end elevation of a detail shown in Fig. 39;

Fig. 43 is a sectional view on the line 43-43 of Fig. 4l showing a detail of the stamper clutch mechanism;

Fig. 44 is a detail side elevation showing a safety device starting the cigar cartoning mechanism when a predetermined number of cigars are in position to be cartoned but not before;

Fig. 45 is a plan view of the preceding;

Fig. 46 is a detecting-device for preventing operation of the cartoning mechanism when defective or short count groups of cigars are supplied;

Fig. 47 is a view in side elevation showing the electrical timing means for co-action with the safety and detecting mechanisms of Figs. 44 and 46;

Fig. 48 is a view on the line 48-48 of Fig. 47;

Fig. 49 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections involved in the mechanisms of Figs. 44, 46 and 47;

Fig. 50 is a detail plan view showing the operating stations A, B, C and D of the mechanism for feeding and opening the cartons;

Fig. 51 is a view also in plan elevation illustrating the continuation of Fig. 50 showing stations E, F, G and H of the cartoning mechanism;

Figs. 52 and 53 are side elevations respectively of the detail shown in Figs. 50 and 51; f

Figs. 54 and 55 are detail sectional views taken on the lines 54-54 and 55-55 respectively of Fig. 51.

In the particular embodiment herein illustrated, there is provided in combination with instrumentalities for successively wrapping cigars in individual Wrappers and for forwarding the same together with means for receiving the individually wrapped cigars and grouping the same in cartons containing a predetermined number of cigars, mechanism. for supplying opened cartons and devices for successively inserting the groups of cigars in said cartons. Preferably there is provided mechanism for engaging the wrapped cigars prior to insertion thereof in the carton operating to stop the operation of said devices if a group is incomplete. In the best constructions contemplated, said means, devices and mechanisms include instrumentalities operating to maintain the' same side of the cigar up, throughout their operation; and said means include grippers arranged to engage a predetermined number of cigars while the cigars are in contacting row relationship. The various means referred to may aoaspss l be varied widely in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details shown and described nor to the particular embodiments chosen as illustrative of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a supply of collapsed cartons C is stacked in a carton magazine I. The cartons in this stack rest n a reciprocating table 2 (see Figs. 10 and 12) provided to the rear of the stack with feeding ledges 3 which serve to catch the edge of the lowermost carton and feedI the same out of the stack. After this carton is fed from the stack it is caught against backward movement with the return of the table by means of a pair of latch or hook members 4 (Fig. 11) which rest by gravity on the lowermost carton being ejected. The forward end of the hooks nearest the stack is beveled to permit the edge of the ejected carton to slip under the same. 'I'he table 2 on returning removes its supporting effect from under the ejected carton which then drops into the pocket of the carton conveyor presently to be described (Fig. 9).

The rear edge of the carton drops first due t0 an abutment 6 in the path of the forward edge which temporarily supports said edge when the carton is in an inclined position as shown in Fig. 10, in dotted lines, but almost immediately permits the carton edge to slip off to the position shown in full lines.

The carton feeding table 2 is reciprocated in a slideway 1 (Fig. 9) being supported therein by slide strips 8 (Fig. 12) secured to the table 2, which slide stripsA are connected by links 3 to a. pair of levers IIJ pivoted at II (Fig. and linked through shaft I2, crank I3 and rod I4 to a cam lever I5 engaging the cam on the shaft I6. The hook 4 is pivotally supported at I1 to rest by gravity on the carton C (Fig. 11).

The cartons in the pockets 5 supported on the conveyor chain I8 are indexed forwardly to the carton opening station where a knife I9 is pushed along the lower flap of the carton and into the same whereupon the knife is given a twist from the position vshown at the top of Fig. to the position shown in Figs. 16 and 17 to thereby open the carton by reason of the opposing push of the knife and of the forward side 5a of the pocket. 'Ihe blade is then withdrawn to permit the conveyor pocket to be indexed to the next cigar inserting station D (Fig. 50).

The carton conveyor chain I8 is indexed intermittently from station to station by a Geneva wheel 20 secured to the shaft 2| on which is mounted the sprocket 22 (Fig. 50) carrying the chain I8, the other end of which chain is carried by the idler sprocket 23 (Fig. 3). 'Ihe Geneva wheel is driven by the co-acting crank and pin 24 from the shaft I6 which shaft is driven through gears 25, 26, 21, sprocket 28 and chain 29 running over sprocket 30 on a main drive shaft 3|. Gears 26 and 21 are suitably journaled on shafts 32 and 33. The shaft 33 also carries the sprocket 28.

v'I'he knife I9 (Figs. 14-18) is given its reciproeating movement on a slide 34 mounted on rails 70 35 and connected by a pin 36 with a fork 31 in a lever 38 pivoted on a shaft 39 connected by a lever 40, link 4I and a bell crank lever 42 to the cam 43 on the cam shaft 44. The timing of this cam is such that the knife is inserted while the con- 'veyor is at rest with a carton at station .'B'

(Fig. `50) The knife I9y istwisted in the carton by means of a shaft 45 (Fig. 18) secured to one end of the knife and carrying a lever 46 (Fig. 16) having at its outer end a roller 41 engaging in a fork 48 which fork is pivoted on a shaft 49. This fork lever is oscillated through a. lever 50v connected bysuitable linkage I to a bell crank lever 52 actuated in turn through link 53 by lever 54 engaging cam 55. The cam 55 is so timed that the knife I9 isgiven its twisting movement at the end of the knife inserting movement of the slide 34 (Figs. 13 and 14).

At station D a predetermined number of cigars which in the particular embodiment illustrated have been banded and individually wrapped, are supplied in position for insertion in the carton (Figs. 44, 45, 46, 50).

The present cartoning mechanism is designed for co-actlon with mechanism for individually wrapping and in some instances, banding cigars ,so as to operate in synchronized relation therewith and so as to prevent loss of position of the cigars which may have bands or printed material which must be the same side up in the carton to produce a marketable package. The relationship of the carton'ing mechanism to said banding and wrapping mechanism will now be described.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the wrapped, and if so desired, banded cigars yare supplied by wrapping and banding machines such as that disclosed in the application of Joseph A. Neumair, Serial Number 629,959, filed August 22, 1932, issued April 20, 1937, as Letters Patent No. 2,077,431. In this type of machine as illustrated in Fig. 3, the cigars T are carried in grippers 60 on a conveyor chain 6I from which each of the cigars is pushed into a wrapper 62 which is folded about three sides of the cigar by the plunger 63 pushing the wrapper into grippers 64 as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 3. While held by these grippers 64 the depending edges of the wrapper are lapped by the lock seam folders 65 and 66. At another station of the conveyor 61 which carries the grippers 64, the tubular projecting end portion of the wrapper is tucked at opposite sides to plicate the wrapper ends, this being accomplished by two oppositely movable tuckers 68 and 69. The plicated end portions of the wrapper projecting beyond the cigar ends are next folded by being compressed between suitably formed folder blocks 10 and 1I which crease and fold the wrapper ends. 'Ihe folded ends are next crimped to secure them in folded and closed position by corrugated crimpcr blocks 12 and 13 which are moved from opposite directions on the wrapper end portions` The several wrapping, tucking, folding and crimping operation-s referred to are fully described in detail in the patent of Neumair above referred to. The cigar T is then ejected by an ejector 14 which may have means for retaining the cigar against falling as shown in the application above referred to, which carries the cigar into the grippers 15 on a conveyor chain 16. The conveyor chain 16 as well as vthe chain 6I are both indexed in proper timed relation to the i wrapping and banding parts through a Geneva wheel 11 mounted on a shaft 18 which shaft carries a gear 19 engaging with gears 82 and 8| carrying suitable sprockets, and the chainsv 6I and 16. This Geneva wheel 11 is driven by a crank pin 92 mounted on a shaft 93 driven through gears 94, 95, 96, 91 and 98 from the main drive shaft 3l. The cigars T in the grippers 15 may b'e banded as they travel towards the cartoning mechanism by a suitable banding mechanism L. This banding mechanism includes a suction turret 84 which receives bands from a band magazine, not shown, and carries a moistened band into a position overlying the cigar T under the same. A pair of folders 85 and 86 serves to fold the bands along the vertical sides of the cigar-s and hold the band in U formation about the embodiment illustrated as shown in Fig. 3. It is from the forward end of this row of cigars that the group for insertion in the carton is taken.

Between "station C and station D suitable means are provided for separating a group containing a predetermined number of cigars. This means includes a pair of grippers |00 and IOI consisting of a pair of bands which may' be of rubber stretched over pairs of pins |02 and |03. Each of these pairs of pins is supported on arms `|04 and |05 respectively, carried by rods |06 and y|01 respectively which rods are carried by upper and lower levers |08 and I 09 (Figs. 6 and '1). These levers are interconnected for opposite and equal movement by projecting lug portions hav,

ing a notch in one engaging a shoulder of the other, the upper lever being held in operating contact with the lower lever by means of a spring IIO so that operation of the lower lever operates the upper lever.

The grippers |00 and |0| are mounted for movement transversely of the cigars at the forward end of the row on the plate 90 in slots in said plate being mounted for this purpose on a carriage I I2 attached to a slide rod II3 given reciprocating movement by a shackle I I4 secured to therod II3 and carrying a pin II5 in a slot I|6 of the oscillating cam lever I I1 driven by the cam ||8 'on shaft I6.

h The grippers |00 and |0I are so operated as to close on the first ve cigars in the row of cigars as shown in Fig. 3 and by reason of the reciprocating movement just referred to they carry the five cigars away from the forward end of the row at a rate of travel greater than the normal feeding movement of the row so as not to interfere with the accumulation of another five cigars in position to be grouped and separated, during the inserting of the first mentioned group in the car ton. To produce this grouping operation, a roller I I9 (Fig. 7) secured to the lever |09 engages in a groove |20 (Fig. 4) in a crossbar |2| carried 'by a pair of levers |22 secured through pivot shaft I 23 to cam lever |24 engaging cam |25 on shaft 44. Shaft 44 constituting one of the principal cam shafts extending lengthwise of the machine is driven from the shaft |I through bevel gears |26 and |21. Thus operation of the cam |25 causes a lifting of the lever |09 bringing together the grippers |00 and IOI on the foremost cigars of the row which are stopped by suitable stops |28, presently ,to be described, as shown in Fig. 44.

At the forward end of their movement in the grippers |00 and IOI, the group of cigars is in axial alignment withi the open carton C at the' bracket |32 on an adjustable rod |33 secured slidably in a clamp |34 in which the rod may be secured in desired position by a thumb screw |35. The clamp |34 is secured to a block |36 slidably mounted on rails |31 on which the block is reciprocated by means of a link |38 connected to a lever |39, this lever being oscillated through a. shaft |40 and lever |4| which lever is connected by a rod |42 to a cam roller |43 in a cam groove |44 of the cam' |45 on the shaft 44. For the purpose of supporting the end of the rod |42, a block |46 is journaled on the shaft 44 and is received in a fork |41 secured to the end of said rod |42.

The funnel |3| comprises upper and lower plates |50 and |5| and a pair of hinged side plates |52 and |53 hinged on pintles |54 and |55. The ends of the hinged plates |52 and |53 are stopped in a position with their ends substantially in alignment with the edges of the vertical side walls of the carton so that the cigars are guided into the carton without catching on said edges. It will be noted that the plates |52 and |53 form a tapered funnel toward the mouth of the carton.

The cigars pushed into the carton C by the plunger |30, which is admitted within the funnel by means of an opening or slot |56 in the top of the funnel, are brought up against a series of stop elements |51 corresponding in number and spacing to the cigar ends which yield to the pressure of the cigars provided they are of normal length and firmness (Figs. 22 and 46). Each of the stops |51 which are yieldably mounted as shown in Fig. 46 will open a circuit, the circuits of each stop being' in series with the others so that the circuit as a whole will be open only when all of the stops |51 are pushed in, as shown in Fig. 46. The circuit will be described in more detail at al later part of this specification.

The stops |51 are carried to operative position within the right hand end of the carton as shown in Figs. 19 and 20, by means of a box |58 within which the stop carrying rods 300 are movably mounted yin the box, these rods being spring pressed toward cigar engaging position (Fig. 46) by means of springs 302, the box as a whole being given a to and fro movement on a lever |63 (Figs. 21-22) on which the box is adjustably secured for both horizontal and vertical adjustment by means of a stem |64 in a clamp block |65 (Fig. 20), which block is in turn l.secured by stern |66 in a second clamp |61 on the lever |63. This lever is oscillated through a link |68 connected to a lever |69 pivoted at |10 and connected by a link |1| having a pin and slot connection to the lever |39. A spring |12 biases the lower end of the lever |69 toward the lever |63 for the purpose of biasing the box away from the right hand end of the carton except when in operative position. The timing of the operation of lever |63 is such that the box |58 is moved to carry the stops into cigar end engaging position after a carton has arrived at station D and after the lever |39 has moved part of its operative stroke to insert the cigars in the carton. .After the lever |39 has operated to nearly complete insertion of 'the clgars, the pin |13 strikes one end of the slot |14 (Fig. 22) showing a-view from the opposite side from that in Fig. 19, thus operating the box in desired timed relation `to the insertion of the cigars. It will be seen from Figs. 50 to- 55 and Fig. 23 that the carton employed is provided with a hinged flap having a tongue at one end of the carton and a pair of bottom flaps at the other end of the carton through which the cigars have been inserted. For the purpose of maintaining these bottom aps CI and C2 open during the cigar lnserting operation the rear side of the funnel |3| adjacent the carton is provided with a tapered plow portion |15 which enters between the flaps Cl and C2 and spreads them apart as shown in Fig. 19 so that the flaps themselves assist in guiding the cigars into the carton.

After the carton has been filled, it is indexed on the carton conveyor to the station E 'at which station the inclined folder plate |16 folds in flap C2. The carton is next indexed to station F where glue is applied to the inside of the flaps CI by means of a glue applying grid |11-which has a vertical movement from a position inl a glue pot |18 (Fig. 22) to upper position where fingers |19 of the grid place glue spots on the flap Ci as shown in Fig. 32. This grid is given its vertical movement by means of a plunger slidable in a bracket |8I, the plunger being supported on a generally horizontal surface of a push lever |82 operated through link |83 from a bell crank lever |84 pivoted at |85 and connected through a link |86 to a crank |81 on the shaft |88. The bell crank receives its motion for operating the push rod |80 from a cam |89, this bell crank through the linkage just described serving to oscillate the shaft |88 for a purpose which will presently appear. The glued fiap CI is then folded by an inclined fold plate |90 (Fig. 53).

At station E devices are provided for folding and inserting the top tongue carrying flap of the carton, these devices being best shown in Figs. 26 to 31. As a carton is received from the carton feed in the pocket of the carton conveyor, the tongue flap C3 is projecting horizontally. 'I'his tongue is ordinarily pre-scored in the positions along which it is to be bent during manufacture of the cartons which facilitates the folding and tongue inserting operations. -With the tongue in the position shown in Fig. 26, a plate |9| is given a downward and inward vertical movement from the position shown in Fig. 26 to the position shown in Fig. 27 which breaks the hinge of the flap C3 over the corner of the block |92 and by engagement of the tongue portion C4 with the horizontal plate |93 also serves to bend the tongue C4 at right angles to said ap C3 as shown in Fig. 27. This tongue portion C4 is then bent sharply upward by swinging of the plate |93 as shown in Fig. 28. This plate |93 is then withdrawn which permits the ap C3 to spring back. In case this flap does not swing sufficiently high, a lifter wire |94 is caused to engage the lower side of the flap to lift the same into position for engagement of the flap C4 by a tongue inserter plate |95. This plate has a generally horizontal but slightly upward motion against the external side of the tongue C4 (Fig. 30) swinging the tongue inwardly about its hinge line along the curved surface |96 of the bar |91 thereby guiding the tip of the tongue under the upper wall of the carton.

AS ShOWII; 7

in Fig. 31 the plate |93 appears carried upwardly against the back of the flap C3. As it rises, its left hand corner (see Fig. 29) strikes the block |92 which swings the plate to vertical position causing its heel portion |93a to push the top of the `flap horizontally toward the carton to complete the insertion of the tongue C4. To prevent catching of the tongue 'edge against the upper wall of the carton, the guide surface |96 extends to a point a little below or level with the inner surface of the upper wall. During this operation the plate |95 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 31 with the curved extension |98 passing over the upper corner of the carton and at the same timeguarding the tongue at that point. A shoulder |99 at the base of the extension |98 bears on the hinge line of the tongue and aids in inserting the tongue.

blade is secured, which link isv carried in vertical position by a pair of parallel links 202 and 203 carried by pivots 204 and 201 and given to and -fro movement by a lever 206 connected to shaft 201 on which the lever 203 is secured. Lever 206 is connected through link'208 to .a lever 209 fast to the shaft 2|0 which shaft carries the tongue inserting plate |95 through a lever 2|| loosely mounted on shaft 2|0. The plate |95 is also supported by leverl2|2 on shaft 2|3. The shaft 2|3 is rocked by a crank 2|4 through a link 2|5 which link is secured to a cam lever 2|6 having a roller 2|1 engaging a cam 2|8 on the cam shaft 44 (Fig. 23).

` The plate |95 is given itsto and fro motion by means of a crank 2|9 secured to the shaft 2|0 and connected to the link 220 which is operated through cam lever 22| by cam 222 mounted on the shaft 44. The ap lifting wire |94 derives` its rnotionfrom the shaft 201 to which it 4is adjustably secured. y

The tongue folding plate |93 is pivotally mounted (Fig. 28) at 223 on the arm 224 on whichlarm it is normally pulled with its heel part |93a (Fig. 29) down against the lever 224 by a spring 225 acting on a lever 226 attached to said plate.' This arm 224 is given a vertical to and fro movement which causes the forward end of the plate |93 to strike the block |92 thereby swinging the plate as already described and shown in Fig. 28. After moving to the position s hown in Fig. 28, and partially folding in the tongue, the arm 224 is again lowered to the position shown in Fig. 30 and is again lifted vertically to the position shown in Fig. 31 in which the block 92-has swung the plate to vertical poi sition so that the heel portion in its swinging held with the roller in contact ,with the camV byzmeans of a spring 232.

At station F, the revenue stamp and an advertising or other identifying label is applied to the closed tongue end of the carton, by any suitable stamping means, such for instance as that illus- `trat/ed somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 32. [I'his stamping means may be of the typeill'ustrated -in United States Patent to P. M. Neiedly.

No. 1,682,406, dated Aug. 28, 1928, for a Package stamper.

In this type of stamper, stamp pickers 240 withdraw a stamp L from the stamp magazine 24| into operative engagement with a stamp carrier wheel 242 on shaft 239 which by stamp gripping means such as shown in the Nejedly Patent, carries the stamp intocontact with a paste wheel 243 and then into a position overlying the carton C where stamp applier fingers 244 push the moistened stamp into contact with the carton, the stamp being so applied that the end of the stamp projects over the end of the carton as shown in Fig. 33. The fingers 244 are suitably operated in timed relation to the movement of the carrier wheel 242 by means of a lever 245 carrying said fingers, which lever is pivoted on a pin 246 and is spring pressed by a spring 241 into engagement with a push lever 248 which is given vertical rocking movement by a link 249 connected toa lever 250 on shaft 25| which shaft is rocked by a cam lever 252 engaging cam 253 on shaft 254. This shaft is driven by a chain 255 passing over idlers 256 and 251 and a sprocket 258 on the cam shaft 44.

After passing through an idle station G, the closed and partially stamped carton arrives at a delivery station H which station is at a position on the conveyor chain |8 in which the carton is turned ninety degrees around the sprocket 22 and is therefore in vertical position. It will be remembered that the collapsed cartons were forced into open position in pockets of the conveyor in which pockets the cartons have a close enough fit to stick while at the same time the vertical walls of the pocket hold the carton in open position. At the station H the carton is held in the position shown in the right hand of Fig. 3 by the friction of the pocket walls on the carton. A swinging ejectorarm 260 (Fig. 36) is provided which has a pair of cartonengaging lugs 26| which are located behind either end of the carton at the time the carton is indexed to station H. The arm 260 is then given a ninety degree clockwise movement as shown in Fig. 36 from 'dotted line to full line position which sweeps the carton alongthe curved portion 262 into the straight portion 263 of the chute 264. As the carton is swept along the curved chute portion 262, it is engaged by the brush 265 which lays the stamp over the end flap C4, thus completing the stamping operation. Thecartons accumulate in a solid row in the magazine 264 which by reason of its position at right Vangles to the remainer of the machine does not materially increase the floor space required by the machine.

For the purpose of preventing waste of a revenue stamp or loss of a label lwhen there is no carton in position to be stamped or labeled, means are provided for stopping the stamp wheel whenv no carton is in position to'be fed to the stamper. This means includes a trigger 261 (Fig. 38) in the path of the end of a carton in the conveyor pocket and this trigger which is pivoted at 268 is connected by a link 269 to a lever 210 having a pin 21| which pin is only moved into position to en- "216 secured to the stamp wheel drive shaft 239.

The sprocket 215 is driven constantly by' a chain 211` For the purpose of bringing the stamp wheel toa quick stop when the stamp wheel is released from ,the drive, a brake band 218 engaging the sleeve 215- is provided which is under braking tension produced by the spring 219 which is coiled upon a pin 280 secured to the brake band and put under adjusted tension by a thumb screw 28|I on said pin bearing against said spring. This brake band 218 constitutes one form of clutch available for controlling the operation of the machine,'and will be hereinafter designated bythe term clutch where that generic designation is appropriate. The other end of the brake band is supported by a bar 282 through which the pin 280 passes, this bar being supported by a bracket 283. Chain 211 ls driven through sprockets 284, shaft 285, sprocket 285 and chain 281 which in turn is driven from sprocket 288, shaft 288, sprocket 290 and chain 255.

The present machine is provided with meansy for preventing cartoning of defective or short 305, and wire 301, connected to pivot rod 30 I, form a circuit which, through a rotary timing switch and a relay, controls the power circuit, the operation of which will presently be described.

Provision is also made to insure against the transfer of cigars from the delivery line until the line is full. The operation of this device is as follows.

A circuit breaker 308, Figs. 44 and 45, is mounted on the delivery table 90 in position to be actuated by a lever 309 on transfer arm 0. Lever 300 has a blade 3|0 reaching down below the top of the cigars and, unless the line of cigars is full up to stop |28 on transfer arm |09, lever 308, which is held in an inoperative position by spring 3| will not affect circuit breaker 308. As the cigars advance to stop |28, the cigar rst in line engages blade 3 |0 forcing it ahead and causing lever 308 to depress circuit breaker 308, thus opening a. circuit which, through a rotary timing switch and a relay, controls the clutch circuit, the operation 'of which will presently be described.

The electric wiring diagram is shown in Fig. 49. The motor power circuit is controlled by the fibre lined box |58 which acts as a circuit breaker, as previously described, in a circuit passing through rotary timing switch 3|| mounted on shaft 44 which makes one revolution per cycle of the machine, and is set so as to close'the circuit at the moment the cigars normally bear on all the feelers |51 in the circuit breaker.

If the proper number of cigars have been inserted, the circuit is broken and the normally closed relay 320 is not energized, thus leaving the motor circuit 3|9 closed. If one or more cigars less than the required number have been inserted into the carton, the circuit breaker remains closed and, as timing switch 3|| makes contact, relay 320 is energized and motor circuit 3|8 opened.

The motor is thus stopped and the machine shut down.

The clutch control circuit is operated from circuit breaker 308, previously described, in a lcircuit passing through a rotary timing switch 3|2 and a relay 3|3. These parts are connected in'series and function as follows.

While circuit breaker 308 remains closed the normally open relay 3|3 becomes energized, as switch 3|2 makes contact, thus closing the clutch operating circuit, energizing solenoid 3M, which throws clutch operator lever 3 5 into engagement, causing the machine to stop. The switch 3| 2, which is mounted on shaft 44 remains in closed circuit position until the cigars, on delivery table 90, push on blade 3|0 and lever 309 breaks contact 308, thus opening the circuit and de-energizing relay 3|3, causing a break in the clutch operating circuit. The clutch operating circuit having been broken, solenoid 3H becomes de-energized, permitting clutch operator lever 3 I5 to be brought into clutch released position by spring 3|8, thus again starting the machine.

Switches 3|1 and 3|0 are introduced into the circuits for the purpose of placing the respective circuits under the manual control of the operator of the machine.

It will be noted that due to the arrangement of the delivery chute 284 transversely of the conveyor I8 the cartons, through the swinging movement of the arm 260, are stacked crosswise of the length of the machine resulting in a considerable saving of floor space. This swinging movement of the arm 260 is produced (see Figs. 35, 36 and 37) by a shaft 325 carrying said arm and oscillated through gears 326 and 321 from the oscillating shaft |88.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a machine has been provided which is capable of coaction with banding and/or wrapping mechanism for cigars and other articles of that type to complete, without being touched by hand, all the wrapping and/or banding and cartoning operations necessary to the producing of a marketable package or carton of such articles. In this connection it is noted that the use of the bottom flaps and a cigar guiding funnel as already described prevents any catching of bands outside the wrapper when such are used, at the mouth of the carton.

Since the operation of the several parts of this machine has been described in detail in connection with the description of its parts, further description of its operation will be dispensed with in the interest of brevity.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with means for individually forwarding wrapped cigars, of means for separating and grouping the forwarded cigars in predetermined numbers, means for supplying and opening collapsed cartons, and means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, said ,several means being disposed in juxtaposition to each other and co-ordinated to act in continuous progression upon a continuing supply of cigars and cartons respectively to delivery complete filled cartons each containing a group of cigars of the same number.

2. The combination with means for individually forwarding wrapped cigars, of means for separating and grouping the forwarded cigars in predetermined numbers, means for supplying and opening collapsed cartons, means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, and mechanism for closing the filled cartons, said several means being disposed in juxtaposition to each other and co-ordinated to act in continuous progression upon a continuing supply of cigars and cartons respectively to deliver complete filled car-il tons cach containing a group of cigars of the same number.

3. The combination with means for individuallilly lr'lly forwardingwrapped cigars, of means for separating and grouping the forwarded cigars in predetermined numbers, means for supplying and opening collapsed cartons, means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, mechanism for closing the filled cartons, and mechanism for'applying revenue stamps to the closed cartons, said several means being disposed in juxtaposition to each other and co-ordinated to act in continuous progression upon a continuing supply of cigars and cartons respectively to deliver complete filled cartons each containing a group of cigars of the same number.

4. The combination with means for individually forwarding wrapped cigars, of means for separating and grouping the forwarded cigars in predetermined numbers, means for supplying and opening collapsed cartons, means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, and mechanism controlled by said wrapping means for incapacitating said grouping means if no wrapped cigars are forwarded, said several means being disposed in juxtaposition to each other and coordinated to act in continuous progression upon a continuing supply of cigars and cartons respectively to deliver complete filled cartons each containing a group of cigars of the same number.

5. The combination with means for individually forwarding wrapped cigars, of means for separating and grouping the forwarded cigars in predetermined numbers, means for supplying and opening collapsed cartons, means for insertingz` the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, and mechanism engaging the wrapped cigars and 0perative to stop said inserting means if a group of cigars is incomplete, said several meansbeing disposed in juxtaposition to each other and coordinated'to act in continuous progression upon a continuing supply of cigars and cartons respectively to deliver complete filled cartons each containing a group of cigars of the same number.

6. The combination with means for individually forwarding wrapped cigars, of means for separating and grouping the forwarded cigars in predetermined numbers, means for supplying and opening collapsed c-artons, and means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, all of the aforesaid means being operative to keep the upper side of the cigars uppermost, said several means being disposed in juxtaposition to each other and co-ordinated to act in continuous progression upon a continuing supply of cigars and cartons respectively to deliver complete lled cartons each containing a group of cigars of the same number.

'7. The combination with means for individually forwarding wrapped cigars, of means for separating and grouping the -forwarded cigars in predetermined numbers, means for Supplying and opening collapsed cartons, and means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, said separating and grouping means including a device for advancing the wrapped cigars side lby side in a row, and devices for cl-asping the required number of cigars in the ro-w and moving them away therefrom' in a group, said several means being disposed in juxtaposition to each other and co-ordinated to act in continuous progression upon a continuing supply lof cigars and l, cartons respectively to deliver complete filled c-artons each containing a group of cigars of the same number.

8. The combination with means for individually forwarding wrapped cigars, of means for separating and grouping the forwarded cigars in preg determined numbers, means for supplying and opening collapsed cartons, and means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, said inserting means including a support for an opened carton, a guide in register therewith, and means for moving the group of cigars through said guide into the carton on said support, said several means being disposed in juxtaposition to each other and co-ordinated to act in continuous progression upon a continuing supply of cigars and cartons respectively to deliver complete filled cartons each containing a group of cigars of the same number.

9. The combination with means for individually forwarding wrapped cigars, of means for separating and grouping the forwarded cigars in predetermined numbers, means for supplying and opening, collapsed cartons, and means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, said carton supplying and opening means including a support for a collapsed carton, a blade, and means for inserting and twisting said blade in the collapsed carton to open the same, said several means being disposed in juxtaposition to each other and co-ordinated to act in continuous progression upon a continuing supply of cigars and cartons respectively to deliver' complete filled cartons each containing a group of cigars of the ys-ame number.

10. The combination with means for grouping cigars side by side in predetermined numbers, of means for supplying and opening collapsed cartons having projecting top and bottom flaps, means for inserting the groups of cigars endwise in the opened cartons, and means for preventing thetransfer of each group to the open cartons by said inserting means until the desired number of cigars accumulates in each group.

11. The combination with means for grouping cigars in predetermined numbers, of means for supplying and opening collapsed cartons each having a hinged flap with a tongue, at One end of the carton, and a'pair of bottom fiaps at the other end of the carton, through which the cigars are to be inserted; means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, means for gluing and closing said bottom flaps, and means for inserting said projecting tongue flaps in the filled cartons.

12. The combination with means for forwarding a row of articles in contacting side by side relation, of means for separating and grouping the forwarded articles in predetermined numbers, means for supplying and opening collapsed cartons, and means for inserting the group of articles in the opened cartons, and mechanism for closing the filled cartons, said closing means including devices for applying adhesive to and folding the carton flaps over oneend of the enclosed group of articles and for tucking in the carton tongue at the other end thereof.

13. The combination with means for individually forwarding wrapped cigars, of means for assembling and forwarding said individually forwarded cigars in side by side contacting row formation, mechanism for grouping the forwarded cigars in predetermined numbers, means for supplying and .opening collapsed cartons, and means for inserting the groups of cigars in the opened cartons, said separating and grouping means including a device for advancing the cigars side' by side in a row, and devices for 

